Man Utd's Sir Alex Ferguson has suggested foreign players only have themselves to blame if referees treat them unfairly.

After Manchester City failed to get what he believed were two cast-iron spot-kicks at Fulham on Saturday, Sergio Aguero said he felt English players had "privileges" which were not available to outsiders.

Ahead of Manchester United's UEFA Champions League encounter with Romanian champions CFR Cluj, it was a debate Ferguson did not want to enter.

However, the Scot suggested the Premier League's foreign legion are the architects of their own downfall.

"As a subject it is not worth going down because we have known for quite a few years there are plenty of players diving and, you have to say, particularly foreign players," said the United boss.

Ferguson was grumbling at the treatment of Nani at Old Trafford on Saturday.

The Portugal winger went down under a first-half challenge from Jan Vertonghen, only for referee Chris Foy to wave away the spot-kick claims.

Three days on, Ferguson stands by his belief it was a penalty and was happy to excuse Nani of any accusation of diving.

"Nani is not the type to dive," said the manager. "He has never been that type of player."

He added: "It was a penalty kick on Saturday. Sometimes you get them, sometimes you don't.

"From the referee's position it was difficult because there were plenty of bodies in front of him. The linesman could have helped him but he didn't."